2 failed IVFs - What about egg factor?

[paulag]

Hi everyone!
I'm having a bit of a difficult time understanding my situation at the moment...and trying to get some perspective. The accumulative experience and knowledge of everyone on this list is so valuable...so here goes:

I've had 2 failded ivf attempts and went for my follow up consultation last night. My consultant thinks there may be an egg factor, as my embryos are grade 2/3 with some fragementation (although they are 8 cell). He even felt they wouldnt make it to 5 day blastocyst transfer. He felt this was a bit strange for my age (just turned 34) and therefore offered the potential thought that there might be an egg problem.

But the evidence is quite conflicting (and he kind of admitted it). I've had 2 pregancies before. The first was when I was 18 and I termintated at 11 weeks. No problems there, that baby was sticking. The second was ectopic, after only trying for 1 mnth. After that I developed endometriosis on 1 ovary and medium level endo in the womb area. My remaining tube was also found to be blocked. So the endo was removed and to date I dont have any symptoms...although there probably is some there due to all the estrogen I've been taking on ivf. Also my ovaries have performed perfectly through both ivf's.

So how can I have defective eggs if I've been pregnant twice before? Surely the first pregnancy especially wouldnt have been possible. My consultant suggested things can change...but how can the genetic makeup of your eggs change? he couldnt even answer me. Every way we look for an explanation, some other evidence refutes it...so we're left feeling quite lost as to an explanation.

How do they know for sure if your eggs are defective? Can anyone share their similar stories, with perhaps some solid info? I've decided to change clinics just to see what happens, but I'm afraid they'll come to the same 'conclusion' in 2 attempts time. I trust my consultant and he's honest about what he doesnt know....but what he doesnt know is starting to frustrate the hell out of me!

Paula

[Inhale, Exhale]

Hi Paula,
Hope this helps.....

I had one IVF, pregnant, miscarried. Diagnosed as poor embryo quality as uterine lining and gestational sac were top notch.
I then went to FET, I had 2 frozen embryos left. Neither embryo survived the thaw. So, with this and the fact that I had poor follicle stimulation for my age- I am 28 and I only had 14 follicles. (I have stage 3 endometriosis) But I had 12 eggs, 8 fertilized, 4 to 5 day blasts. Pretty good odds I thought.....
Well with the miscarriage and failed embryo thaw, my doc is now testing my chromosones/dna to see if it is poor egg quality. It is a blood test. They grow cells from the blood and test the chromosones of those cells. It takes about 2 weeks and is $700 US dollars. Here is the kicker though- the test is not 100%. They only catch a problem if there is one, one in four times. So, there is a 3 out of 4 chance that they won't catch it.
If my test comes back oK, then they test my DH for a chromosonal defect in him..... So, there is no 100% test to look at egg quality. I completely understand how you feel!!! I wish I could know for sure......

Steph